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Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:34 pm
by joez
If Frederich Cepeda, Yulieski Gourriel, and Jose Abreu ever decide to defect, I'd like to take flyer on any or all of them.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:35 pm
by joez
Team USA pulls to within a run in the top of the 8th. Cuba 8 USA 7 with Cuba batting in the bottom of the 8th, one on, two out.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:47 pm
by joez
Yadier Pedrosa pitched the final three innings for Cuba, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 7 strikeout. Pedrosa struck out the side in the 9th. Cuba with an 8-7 victory over Team USA.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:40 am
by joez
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Cuba wins Thriller against USA to open Round 2

Panama, Netherlands and Australia also prevail as IBAF Baseball World Cup continues

Chitre, Panama.

Cuba remains undefeated in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, as the second round was kicked off on Tuesday. The record title holder faced a tough assignment in the opener, taking on Team USA in a finals rematch. It was the expected thriller with the lead changing several times until Alfredo Despaigne put Cuba in front for good. Also the Netherlands remain on course after a win over Korea. Panama, which had lost the last two games of the first round, rebounded with a lopsided victory over Venezuela, bringing another baseball heavyweight to the brink of elimination from the Gold Medal Game. Group 1 winner Canada stumbled in its first second-round game with Australia.

Cuba 8 – USA 7

Recap

Cuba remains undefeated in the World Cup. The eighth win in a row of the Caribbean power may result fatal to the defending champions. Cuba beat (8-7) Team USA that has now a 1-3 record. At this stage, three wins in the remaining games may not be enough for the World Champions to have a chance to play for the gold. It was a game dominated by the two line ups: Cuba got 17 hits and Team USA responded with 11. Cuba needed only two pitches to get to Team USA starter Jeff Marquez, but the defending champions were a nightmare for Cuban hard throwing starter Freddy Alvarez, who couldn't cope with Team USA discipline at the plate. It's interesting to notice that Yadier Pedroso earned a spectacular save relying almost only on off speed stuff.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:43 am
by joez
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Panama back on Track after Blowout over Venezuela

7 Runs in 5th lift Hosts to even 2-2 Record in 2nd Round

Chitre, Panama.

Panama opened the second round with an easy 11-4 win over Venezuela, bouncing back from two losses at the end of the first phase of the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup. In front of a sellout crowd at Rico Cedeno Stadium in Chitre, Panama the hosts used a seven-run rally in the fifth inning to decide the outcome early. Eight different players scored at least once. Venezuela only was able to counter with solo homeruns by Dirimo Chavez and Rudolfo Cardona. Panama improved to 2-2 in the standings, while their South American counterparts dropped to 1-3.

Dirimo Chavez opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a solo homerun towards right center field. It could have been at least one more run, but Tony Granadillo had hit a line drive into the glove of third baseman Javier Castillo with Arturo Rivas on the move towards second base as the hit and run was on. Castillo had no trouble to throw out Rivas at first for the double play. But Venezuela would lead anyway.

The answer by the hosts came right away. Following a Damaso Espino single and a walk by Jose Castillo with one out in the third, Jose Macias came through with a single to center field just over the glove of Oscar Angulo on second. Espino scored, Castillo moved to third and Macias got to second on the throw to home. Two more runs scored on the following two-run single by Angel Chavez, who unsuccessfully tried to stretch his hit into a double.

Chavez didn’t stop there. In the fifth inning he doubled to bring the score to 4-1. Fernando Seguinol got walked intentionally to load the bases with one out. And David Gonzalez punished this decision with a two-run double off the wall in center field, missing the grand slam by two feet. Another free pass – not by coach suggestion this time - to Conception Rodriguez loaded the bases again. Doubles by Carlos Quiroz and Damaso Espino followed, four more runs got on the board to cap a seven-run rally, which turned a close game into a blowout.

Rodriguez added a RBI single in the sixth to make it 11-1, turning the sights towards a mercy ruled victory. However Rudolfo Cardona had different plans and kept Venezuela from an early ending with a solo homerun in the sixth and a RBI double in the eighth. Ronald Acuna drove in a fourth run with a two-out single. Nonetheless Panama's statement win to open the second round in the tournament never was in any danger.

Handed this much run support, starting pitcher Paolo Espino cruised with ease through six innings. His only mistakes being the two solo shots. Overall he allowed three hits, two runs and three walks, while striking out eight. On the opposing side Carlos Mory had more trouble and didn’t last that long. He surrendered a total of six hits, eight runs and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.

On Wednesday Panama wants to continue the scoring against the strong Cuban team. Venezuela on the other hand has another tough assignment with Team USA in a meeting of teams, which couldn’t fulfill expectations so far.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:45 am
by joez
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Cuba celebrates eigth win, Team USA almost out of the final

It was a hitter's night in "Omar Torrijos" stadium. Cuba took off with five hits in a row. Jadier Pedroso earned a spectacular save

Santiago de Veraguas (Panama) -

Cuba remains undefeated in the World Cup. The eigth win in a row of the caribbean power may result fatal to the defending champions. Cuba beat (8-7) Team USA, that has now a 1-3 record. At this stage, three wins in the remaining games may not be enough for the World Champions to have a chance to play for the gold.

It was a game dominated by the two line ups: Cuba got 17 hits and Team USA responded with 11. Cuba needed only two pitches to get to Team USA starter Jeff Marquez, but the defending champions were a nightmare for cuban hard throwing starter Freddy Alvarez, who couldn't cope with Team USA discipline at the plate. It's interesting to notice that Jadier Pedroso earned a spectacular save relying almost only on off speed stuff.

Cuba was off a brilliant start. During Team USA first at bat, phenom shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena got lead off Brett Jackson, who had hit a sharp liner in the gapbetween shortstop and third baseman and with a runner at first, second baseman Yuliesky Gourriel went all the way behind the bag to flip the ball for a force out to second. The second base umpire punished Arruebarruena for leaving tha bag too early.

In the bottom half of the frame Cuba got immediately to right hander Jeff Marquez (who has three appearances in the American League for the Yankees this season) with five base hits in a row: back to back grounders in the gap between third and shortstop by Rusney Castillo and Alexei Bell, a line up the middle by Frederich Cepeda and another line drive to left by Alfredo Despaigne. With two runners on, the bases loaded and two runs on the scoreboard, il looked like Marquez would not survivethe first inning. But Jose Abreu hit into a double play that scored Cepeda from third, but helped Marquez get into the grove and survive the inning.

Team USA got on the scoreboard in the second, when third baseman Tommy Mendonca (who hit 25 homers at AA for the Texas Rangers) turned a 2-1 fastball by Cuba starter Freddy Alvarez into a rocket that took off in the Santiago night well over the right field fence.
Alvarez wass saved with an outstanding play by Cuba third baseman Michel Enriquez on a bullet hit by catcher Tuffy Gosewish, but didn't survive the third. Jackson led off with a hit up the middle and touched second on a pick off attempt that Alvarez sent into the USA dug out.

After a duel, second baseman Joe Thurston walked and, with one out, first baseman Matt Clark, took Alvarez deep. Bell made the play for the second out, but runners advanced. Carroll sent them both home with a base hit to left and Alvarez left. Mendonca welcomed lefty Norberto Gonzalez with a double off the wall in left field that scored Carroll and gave Team USA the lead.
The tie didn't last long. Cepeda led off the bottom half of the inning with a hit and Despaigne hit a towering homer to left that made it 5-4. With one out, Abreu reached on a base hit, advanced on a hard grounder hit to second baseman and scored on a base hit by catcher Ariel Pestano. On the throw home, Pestano reached second and scored on a single up the middle by Arruebarruena.

Team USA went actually to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth and gave the call to Chuck Fick.
In the fifth, the defending champions forced Gonzalez to leave. With two outs, Clark hit safely to rightfield and Carroll followed him with a two base line drive to second. Mendonca got his third hit of the night and made it a one run game for right hander Vychoandri Odelin, who took the mound as the third cuban pitcher of the night.
Odelin left in the seventh, after walking left fielder Aj Pollock, the lead off hitter. The ball went to right hander Yadier Pedroso, who came out of the inning with a couple of strike outs on his nasty fork ball.

In the bottom of the seventh Team USA gavce the ball to right hander Peter Andrelczyk, a AA and AAA pitcher in the Marlins organization. The newconer got Cepeda on a ground ball to second and was taken deep by Despaigne. Center fielder Danks Jordan ran all the way to the wall to make a great flying catch. But Cuba reached on a swinging bunt by Gourriel. Andrelczyk got to the ball on his knees, made a good throw to first but, according to the umpire, Clark was not on the bag when the runner touched base. Then it was the turn of Abreu to take Andrelczyk deep, well over the head of Jordan for an RBI double.

Odelin struck out Mendonca (the first time in the night the third baseman was put out) to begin the eigth and got a quick second out on a grounder to second by Gosewisch. Jordan singled to right to keep the at bat alive and shortstop Jonny Mercer took Pedroso deep for a double to left. Despaigne got to the ball in the corner, but bubbled it and allowed Jordan to score. With the tying run at second, Pedroso got Jackson on a huge swing on a off speed pitch outside.

In the ninth the righthansder Pedroso didn't need any help against the heart of Team USA lineup, made of left handers. He got Pollok and Thurston swingin on his fork ball and Clark swingin on a two seam fastball, showing an outsanding command of the outside part of the strike zone.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:46 am
by joez
Standings 2nd Round

1) Cuba 4-0
2) Netherlands 3-1
3) Australia 2-2
4) Canada 2-2
5) Panama 2-2
6) Korea 1-3
7) Venezuela 1-3
8) USA 1-3

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:42 pm
by joez
Elvis Araujo, 19, was denied permission by the Cleveland Indian organization to pitch for the Aguilas in the Venezuelan Winter League due to extreme fatigue. Araujo, left hander, was 9-1 in the Arizona League this summer.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:00 pm
by joez
Image
PANAMA -

Right hander Paolo Espino scattered three hits and his team supported him with 15 hits in Panama's 11 - 4 win over Venezuela during the first round of the second phase of the world cup games of baseball that is taking place in Panama.

Espino en route to his first victory at this stage, gave up three hits, two of them homers to Dirimo Chavez and Rodolfo Cardona, walked three and struck out eight.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:07 pm
by joez
Image
The Toros cheerleaders at a photo shoot. Winter ball season in the Dominican starts this coming Friday. Never too late for pics.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:13 pm
by J.R.
JOE: Now THAT's an idea MLB could pick up on!

(Hey, is that you I see in the background middle, right above their shoulders?!)

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:16 pm
by joez
Damn JR, You have a great eye. Your cataract surgery turned out very well :lol:

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:19 pm
by joez
A number of Indians to participate in winter ball

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 10/12/11 5:00 PM ET

CLEVELAND --

The Indians have a long list of players who are participating in various Winter Leagues this offseason.

Cleveland announced on Wednesday that a handful of its big leaguers would be joining a solid sampling of farmhands for winter ball. The Tribe has players lined up to take part in the Arizona Fall League (currently underway), as well as the Winter Leagues in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Panana, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

Here is a look at this winter's participants by league (Major Leaguers in italics):

Arizona Fall League:

Pitchers Cory Burns, Preston Guilmet, T.J. McFarland and Tyler Sturdvent; catcher Roberto Perez; infielder Jesus Aguilar; and outfielders Tim Fedroff and Chad Huffman.

Venezuelan Winter League:

Pitchers Eric Berger, Rob Bryson, Paolo Espino, Jose Flores, Jeanmar Gomez and Hector Rondon; infielders Jesus Aguilar, Manuel Boscan, Asdrubal Cabrera, Argenis Martinez, Karexon Sanchez and Luis Valbuena; and catcher Alex Monsalve.

Dominican Winter League:

Pitchers Fausto Carmona, Luis Encarnacion, Ubaldo Jimenez, Rafael Perez and Felix Sterling; infielders Juan Diaz and Ronny Rodriguez; outfielders Delvi Cruz, Jerad Head and Luigi Rodriguez; and catcher Moises Montero.

Puerto Rican Winter League:

Pitcher Giovanni Soto and catcher Roberto Perez.

Panana Winter League:

Pitchers Francisco Jimenez, Toru Murata, Danny Salazar and Steven Wright.

Colombian Winter League:

Infielder Giovanny Urshela.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:34 pm
by joez
Opening day in Venezuela. Tigres and Cardenales tied at 1 in the 7th. Luis Valbuena's rbi triple stands as the only Cardenales run that's on the board.

Re: Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian Ball

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:03 am
by joez
MEXICO

AGUILAS MEXICALI

ALGODONEROS GUASAVE

CANEROS MOCHIS

MAYOS NOVAJOA

NARANJEROS HERMOSILLO
JASON RICE

TOMATEROS CULIACAN

VENADOS MAZATLAN

YAQUIS OBREGON

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

AGUILAS CIBAENAS
FAUSTO CARMONA
FELIX STERLING
DELVI CID
FRANCISCO JIMENEZ

ESTRELLAS ORIENTE
JUAN DIAZ
RONNY RODRIGUEZ
MOISES MONTERO

GIGANTES CIBAO
RAFAEL PEREZ
LUIGI RODRIGUEZ
ABNER ABREU

LEONES ESCOGIDO

TIGRES LICEY
LUIS ENCARNACION
UBALDO JIMENEZ
JERAD HEAD

TOROS ESTE

VENEZUELA

AGUILAS ZULIA

BRAVOS MARGARITA
ERIC BERGER
ROB BRYSON
MANUEL BOSCAN
ELVIS ARAUJO
JUAN APODACA

CARDENALES LARA
LUIS VALBUENA

CARIBES ANZOANTEGUI

LEONES CARACAS
HECTOR RONDON
ASDRUBAL CABRERA
CARLOS CARRASCO
RAUL PADRON

NAVEGANTES MAGALLANES
EZEKIEL CARRERA

TIBURONES LA GUAIRA
PAOLO ESPINO
JEANMAR GOMEZ

TIGRES ARAGUA

PUERTO RICO

CRIOLLOS CAGUAS

GIGANTES CAROLINA

INDIOS MAYAGUEZ
SHELLY DUNCAN

LEONES PONCE

SENADORES SAN JUAN

COLUMBIA

AGUILAS BOGOTA

CAIMANES BARRANQUILLA

LEONES MONTERIA

POTROS MEDELLIN

TIGRES CARTEGENA
GIOVANNY URSHELA

TOROS CALI

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

VENEZUELA
JOSE FLORES
JESUS AGUILAR
ARGENIS MARTINEZ
KAREXON SANCHEZ
ALEX MONSALVE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
DELVI CRUZ

PUERTO RICO
ROBERTO PEREZ

PANAMA (DEFUNCT ?!?!?!
FRANCISCO JIMENEZ
TORU MURATA
DANNY SALAZAR
STEVEN WRIGHT